Confessions Under the Truth Potion

Confessions Under the Truth Serum

As the quartet stared at the letter, and took in Ron's conclusion, nothing could be heard except for someone breathing heavily.

"Right," Harry spoke, "we have to act fast. First we have to talk to Crabbe and Goyle and we have to find what Pansy was really up to. Also we have to find out who was listening in on the conversation."

Ron interrupted, "One sec Harry. I have to see Oliver, remember? I have to pick up something from him."

"Oh yes, I remember," Harry replied.

"Well how about we do it like this?" Hermione started. "Ron, go see Oliver. Do what you have to do, and then check around the school. Harry, go talk to Pansy and try to get something out of her. Draco, it may be best if you talk to her before Harry does. Talk to Crabbe and Goyle as well. I'll talk to Goyle."

"Do you think Pansy and Goyle will talk to you two?" Draco asked.

"Draco's right," Harry said, "It's not like they would open up and tell us everything."

Hermione searched in her pockets and pulled out a piece of paper.

"It's possible I guess. Draco, you're familiar with Veritaserum right?"

"Sure Hermione, it's a powerful truth serum. Why?"

"Offer them drinks. I'll make them up before hand. They can't lie with this stuff."

"What if you can't get any?" Ron asked

"There's a simple, but efficient one I can make but Draco would have to act quickly. Its effects only last an hour, maybe two."

She waved the paper in Draco's face.

"Wait a minute, what can I do?" Ron was looking a little anxious.

Draco pulled gently on Ron's shoulder.

"The note. Check the note for anything, fingerprints, drool marks, I don't care what you look for. Just something to give us a clue."

With that he shoved the note into Ron's hands.

"So what?" he continued, "You're not totally behind the idea of Harry and I having a relationship but I'll tell you one thing; both of us don't want to see Harry hurt, so lets just put aside all of this for now and try and stop whoever it is doing this."

It seemed like a moment of clarity of some sort had come over Ron.

"Okay Draco, all rivalries aside, for now."

"Should we shake to make it binding?"

"I think it's necessary for you both to shake hands and get onto the task at hand." Hermione pushed.

The two boys shook hands and quickly snapped them back to their sides.

Harry sighed, "That'll do for now, I guess."

Ron looked at the crumpled up note in his hand and then back to the others.

"I'll make a start on this after I visit Oliver. Fred and George should have something that could help."

Ron turned and ran towards the Quidditch pitch.

Hermione was the next to speak.

"I'll go and find some Veritaserum, I suspect that Professor Snape would keep some somewhere in the school. He's always threatening to use it on us. If not, I'll make a batch of the other stuff and owl Draco as soon as it's ready then we'll take it from there."

She turned and walked in the direction of the Potions classroom.

"I guess I'll go find Pansy and talk to her."

Harry turned away, but Draco caught his arm and turned him around to face him.

"Harry, I just wanted to say that...that...I...you know."

Harry smiled.

"I know Draco. I feel the same; I don't want you hurt at all either. We better get moving."

Harry placed a small kiss on Draco's cheek and both of the boys walked in opposite directions. Harry toward the library and Draco towards the Slytherin Common Room.

Ron Weasley

* Bloody hell, it's getting cold. Why couldn't Oliver ask to meet up somewhere warmer, like Gryffindor Tower? Now that's warm. A nice warm fire and maybe some hot chocolate from Honeydukes. Mmmmm, I could really go for some chocolate right now. *

* Gotta keep warm. Think angry thoughts. *

*Okay then, so Harry and Malfoy are an item. God I hoped this wouldn't happen. *

* I hate having to call Malfoy Draco, it's really unnatural, not to mention weird. *

*Mmmm, feeling slightly warmer now. What else can I think of? *

*Ummmm, not a damn thing. Maybe I can get angry because I can't think of anything to get angry about. Stupid dumb brain, can't think of anything to be angry about. Stupid, stupid, stupid me. *

* Ah, that's better. I can see the pitch. If Oliver's not here, I'm going to hex him so bad for getting me to drag my arse out into the cold. He's really.... *

Ron could see Oliver's head as he poked it out from the entrance that led to one of the spectator stands.

"Oi Ron, in here."

"There you are Oliver." * And you should be too. I'm not going to stand freezing my arse off and to see you're not here. *

Oliver dragged Ron up the stairs and up to the stand. Both boys sat down on the back bench.

"So," Oliver asked, "what have you got for me Ron? Anything good?"

Ron shifted uneasily on the spot.

"You see Oliver, the practice was going really well until one of the Bludgers turned and knocked someone unconscious." * Is that okay? You're not going to kill me are you? *

"I heard. Malfoy ended up in hospital."

"How did you find out?"

"Cedric of course. So, what practice did they do?"

"Not much. Just put Chasers against Chasers and Beaters against Beaters etcetera. Nothing really worth noting. They do know that there is a spy around, but both Rodger and Cedric think it's Malfoy and not me. Cho thinks it could be us though, which has got me worried."

"Lets try to keep the suspicion on Slytherin then and get Cho off our tail. Have you got any other news?"

"Yeah. I heard Flint talk to Malfoy about what they could do, since Malfoy has been told to play no sports for about a fortnight. It looks like Flint will put Terrence back as Seeker for the game against Ravenclaw and bring in an untrained Chaser." * Hee hee. Malfoy has no idea I was there for so long. *

"Anything else?"

"No, that's about it for now." * Does this mean I can go now? I'm bloody cold. *

Oliver stood up and wrapped his robes around him tightly.

"Okay then, Ron. We better go, it's freezing out here and I want something hot to drink."

"A hot drink sounds good but I have to find my stupid brothers." * About time, I think I'm going to freeze. *

Oliver pointed towards the general direction of the courtyard.

"They'll be around the courtyard somewhere. Okay Ron, I'll see you later."

"Bye, Oliver." * I am so out of here. *

Ron and Oliver descended the stairs and Ron ran towards the courtyard.

Hermione Granger

*Right, looking through the potions cupboard. Nothing in there that even resembles a Veritaserum bottle. *

Hermione stood up and stretched her back.

* Bugger this, it's too hard. I've been looking for an hour now and knowing Snape, he'd be storing it in his office. I guess its potion B then. Everything's in the dorm anyway because I was going to make it to get some truth out of Harry about his disappearing acts. *

She took the paper with the recipe for 'Potion B' out of her pocket.

* Damn it, it's smudged. Oh well, off to the library. *

Harry Potter

* Right then, at the library, trying to find Pansy. *

* Oh there she is, sitting over in the corner. What's she reading? 'Quidditch Through the Ages'? Oh well, if she wants Draco, she's has to start somewhere. *

* She better have a damn good explanation for what she did to Draco. If not, god I hope Draco gets to her before I do if I find out that she was lying. *

Harry walked over to Pansy and cleared his throat.

Pansy looked up from the book and scowled.

"What do you want Potter?"

"Um, nice book Parkinson. Great read?"

Pansy placed the book by her side and glared at Harry.

"What. Do. You. Want. Potter?"

* Oh shit. Well here it goes. *

"Well, I want to know why you.... attacked Draco this morning?"

Pansy's look changed from annoyed to concerned.

"Someone tried to attack Draco after Transfigurations and you were there." * Don't play stupid Parkinson. I'm not in the mood for games. *

"Me? Attack Draco?"

Harry was getting annoyed so he took out his wand and pointed it straight at Pansy's face but kept it under his cloak so no one could see.

"Yes Parkinson, you were there. Now before I hex you, tell me what you were up to." * Are you blonde? *

Pansy just stared at Harry then she stood up. She dragged him towards the nearest empty table and sat him down.

"Draco was attacked this morning, after Transfigurations. Hermione and I saved his Slytherin arse from you and Goyle," Harry said. "That's why I'm asking you. You were there."

"Listen Potter," Pansy growled, "I stayed back in class this morning. I was having trouble with this morning's work and I asked Professor McGonagall about it at the end. I was there for about ten minutes. She can confirm it."

Her face clouded over.

"Anyway Potter, you know I wouldn't hurt Draco." * Bloody hell Parkinson, you were there you nitwit. *

"Yeah I do know that you are rather fond of him." * Yeah but I've got him and you don't. Nah nah nee nah nur. *

"Potter, go ask the Professor. I was still at class. While you're at it, get your glasses checked."

"Fine, I'll go check." * Oh dear. No hope there, I hope Draco will have more luck with the truth potion. *

Harry stormed out of the library; completely passing Hermione, who was tucked away in a corner finding a book.

Draco Malfoy

* Where are those two idiots? I can never find them when I need them. *

Draco stalked down the hall and recognized two bulky figures walking in front of him.

"There you both are." * It's about bloody time. *

Crabbe and Goyle turned around and looked at Draco.

"Where the hell were you both today? I thought you would have come to find me."

"Didn't need to," Crabbe said. "we know you were in the Hospital Wing."

"How did you know that?" * Hey, now we're talking *

"We overheard a conversation between Potter and Granger after class."

"Really now? Funny that cause I had a visit from Goyle after class."

Goyle looked at Malfoy like he had bumped his head.

"I.......I did?" he muttered.

"Yes you did. In fact you and Parkinson paid me a visit." * Come on confess you dipstick! *

"I did?" Goyle pointed to himself, "Are you sure Malfoy?"

"Sure I'm sure."

Crabbe looked at Goyle before the boy walked off.

"Guilty conscience?" Malfoy asked. * I hope so. *

Crabbe shook his head, "No Malfoy. He got his marks from the Charms test we had last week. He spent most of the morning after Transfiguration with Flitwick. He did pretty badly compared to his other tests."

"And Flitwick can confirm that?" * Oh god, if I am wrong, shoot me. *

Crabbe frowned, "Sure can."

Draco started to walk off when Crabbe quickly caught up with him.

"You should know something Malfoy."

"What?"

"At breakfast today. Dumbledore said that someone was causing a lot of trouble here and they could be using some kind of potion called Polyjuice Potion. Now I have no idea what it does, but can you tell me? Malfoy? Malfoy?"

Draco was running towards the library. Running towards Hermione.

* Polyjuice potion? What if we were wrong all this time? *

Harry

"Excuse me Professor?" Harry ran to catch up with Professor McGonagall.

"Yes Potter?"

"Did Pansy Parkinson stay back after class today?" * Oh I hope she's lying *

"Yes Potter, she did, for a whole ten minutes. Why do you ask? Although it's really not your business."

"I um...wanted to ask her about something this morning and she said to meet her at the library, but she wasn't there. I guess I wanted to see if she was lying or not." * This is not good. *

"Okay then Potter. Is that all?" McGonagall asked.

Harry started to walk out of the room backwards, "No Professor but thank you." * Damn. Well if she was here, who was in the hospital ward this morning? *

Hermione

As Hermione walked down the hall with the recipe, she saw Draco running her way.

* What's he doing? *

"Any luck?" she asked as he neared her.

"Hermione, we've been wrong."

"What do you mean wrong?"

"Crabbe said that Dumbledore gave notice during breakfast today that someone was playing pranks around the school using Polyjuice potion."

"Oh dear. What about Pansy and Goyle?" * This is certainly a spanner in the works. *

"Goyle was with Professor Flitwick and I haven't asked Harry about Pansy."

"I can answer that now if you would like?" Harry ran towards the duo.

"Pansy was with McGonagall after class. McGonagall even said so."

"So we are not looking at Pansy and Goyle then?" * Okay that's it. This is too weird! *

Draco answered, "Neither of them. It's someone else. Has Ron had any luck with the note?"

"Not sure?" Harry said, "We better see."

"I guess we go to Gryffindor Tower then?" Draco asked.

"Yes. Don't worry, we can sneak you in." * Where's Harry's Cloak when you need it? *

"Lets go then shall we? Do you reckon I should just move there? I seem to be spending a lot of time with you two," Draco asked with a smirk on his face.

Hermione sighed, "Lets go, time is being wasted." * Stupid remark Draco, stupid remark. Or are you serious? God I hope not. *

Ron

*Fred and George weren't in the Courtyard at all. Stupid brothers. Dean said that they were back at Gryffindor Tower. *

Ron trudged up the stairs and into the Common Room. It was quiet and nobody was there, except for two figures that were sitting near the fire.

"Fred? George?" * It had better be. *

One of the twins turned around and saw Ron standing by the entranceway.

"Hiya Ronny. What's happening?" George asked.

"Not much. Listen I need to ask something." * Please don't dumb this down. *

"Is it about girls?" Fred asked

"No."

"Money?" chimed George

"No!"

"Pranks?" both boys chorused.

"No it's not!" Ron yelled. * Why is it always about pranks? *

"Well?" asked Fred, "What is it then?"

Ron walked up to the twins and sat down between them.

"I know that you have a whole heap of stuff in your dorm that you use to pull pranks with."

"Right," Fred said.

"So I wonder if you can help me with this?"

Ron pulled out the note, still folded.

"There's been a threat against Harry and we found this note. I want to try and get anything off it. You know, fingerprints, drool marks. Stuff like that." * Oh God, I'm starting to sound like Malfoy. *

Fred looked at Ron, then at George.

"Well?" * A simple yes or no would be good right now. *

The twins stood up and grabbed Ron.

"Come on Ronniekins," cajoled George. "We'll see what we can do."

The trio went up the stairs and stopped at the girl's dorm. Fred muttering something along the lines of "If it wasn't for this stupid competition, we wouldn't have to be hiding our stuff."

Ron didn't give the comment any further thought as Fred made his way to the door.

Fred knocked and Katie, a chaser on the Quidditch team, stuck her head out.

"Fred, George, Ron, what's up?"

"Um Katie, we need to get to the supplies," Fred said in a quiet voice.

Katie's eyes widened.

"Okay then," she opened the door, "there's only Alicia and me here anyway so go ahead."

The twins walked in, with Ron following close behind. Ron had never been in the Girls dorm at the higher end of the tower. It looked like the boys dorms, nothing notably different, except that it smelt like perfume.

They stopped at Katie and Alicia's beds and pulled out a box from under each. Both were small and locked.

The twins pointed their wands at the boxes.

"Engorgio!" yelled Fred.

"Alohomora!" yelled George.

All of a sudden, the two boxes both became larger, and a clicking sound was heard from both. The lids swung open and the twins began to rummage through the contents.

After about a couple of minutes, Fred stood up and placed something in Ron's hand. It was a small box with a brush taped on top.

"We haven't tried this yet, so I guess it's brand new. All you have to do is dust it onto the note. It should show any prints or non ink marks that were made after it was written."

George placed something else into Ron's hand. This was a small red bottle about the size of a matchbox.

"This," George said, "might help you find out who wrote the note. I can't guarantee anything will work but it's worth a shot."

Fred closed the two boxes and locked them. The twins then stepped back from the boxes and once again pointed their wands towards the boxes.

"Reducio!" both twins bellowed and the boxes shrunk down instantly.

Fred turned and acknowledged the two girls and turned back.

"Listen, Ron, you better go. We have business to attend to. Um, Quidditch tactics."

"Okay then, thanks for the help. I'll let you know how it goes." * Quidditch tactics indeed. Does Oliver know? Oh god, I'm starting to sound like Hermione. *

Ron ran down the stairs and almost bowled Harry, Hermione and Draco over.

"Ron, what's happening? Any luck on the note yet?" Hermione asked.

Ron shuffled on the spot.

"I guess you are right on time. Fred and George just gave me these and I haven't tested them yet."

Draco grabbed Ron's arm and tugged him down towards the dorm.

"Well let's go. I think we may be on borrowed time."

The quartet ran down the stairs and into the dorm. Neville was sitting on his bed reading a Herbology book.

Neville noticed Draco and pointed.

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

"Never you mind, Longbottom. We have more important things to worry about," Draco calmly replied.

Ron cleared the table and spread the note, bottle and box along the top.

"Hermione, you should do this. I don't have the sturdiest hands."

Hermione took the brush off the top of the box and opened it up. Inside there was a fine white powder.

"You have to gently dust it on the note Hermione. Gently."

Hermione dipped the brush into the box and then dabbed the powder onto the parchment. As soon as she lifted the brush off the parchment something funny started to happen.

The ink started to swirl and small marks appeared on the page.

"According to Fred, all the marks it is showing were made after the ink dried on the parchment."

He turned to Draco, "Recognise any of them?"

Draco picked up the parchment, causing some of the powder to fall off and carefully looked at the parchment.

"No.... not...really.... wait...there's...something here. It looks like.... one of Crabbe's sketches that he always does and this one here.... looks like a little picture of.... Harry."

Draco pointed to a small picture that looked like Harry being hexed.

"Well I guess that solves one thing," Hermione commented.

"What?" asked Harry.

"That Crabbe and Goyle were listening in on our conversation this morning."

Draco was still a little confused, "But if they didn't attack me then....?"

Draco's words were cut off when Harry noticed that the parchment was now doing something rather strange. The ink and the powder seemed to be mixing.

Ron opened the bottle and carefully poured a little of the contents onto the swirling mass of white and black. As soon as the red liquid touched the parchment, the swirling mass stopped and a new set of words formed.

"The words that form should reveal who wrote this note." Ron pointed out as two words became obvious. Crabbe and Goyle.

"Well I guess that definitely sorts that out then," Draco sighed

Suddenly the ink turned back into the message and a new word suddenly appeared on the parchment.

Aparecium

"I assume it wants us to cast that on it?" Ron looked at the parchment carefully.

Hermione picked up her wand and cast the charm. All of a sudden, another sentence appeared under the last sentence in the message.

"Something to expose. If I can expose them, I can win it from him."

Draco gulped, "Win it from him? Expose?"

"Looks like it Draco," Hermione answered, "Now we have two people and a secret to worry about saving and a relationship to keep secret."

Ron looked at the group and said, "How is the truth serum going?"

Hermione looked at Ron.

"I only just got the recipe. If Draco stays a bit longer, he can take enough for Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy."

She turned to Draco

"It will only last an hour, so do it quickly. You have to get Crabbe and Goyle to confirm that they were there this morning and get Pansy to talk more about this morning."

Hermione pulled out a small cauldron and a medium sized sack filled with ingredients. She lit a small flame under the cauldron and kept explaining.

"It's a very simple and quick potion to make," she said while adding some ingredients to the cauldron. "Even the dumbest student could make it."

She extinguished the flame and pointed to three small bottles.

"Draco, can you please get those three empty bottles off my table?"

Draco quickly ran over and grabbed the three bottles then gave them to Hermione.

"Thanks," she said while she emptied the liquid into the bottles.

She handed them to Draco, "There's one bottle for each person. All we need is to know if Crabbe and Goyle listened in on our conversation this morning and if Pansy knows anything. Slip it into a pre-feast drink in the tower."

Draco pocketed the bottles and smiled.

"I think it may be better if someone was there watching. Just to make sure that nothing goes wrong."

Ron stepped forward, "I should do it. If the person wanting to hurt Draco and Harry is in Slytherin, having Draco and Harry both in the same room wouldn't be safe."

Harry walked over to his bed and found the Invisibility Cloak in one of the drawers. He walked over and gave it to Ron.

"Make sure it comes back in one piece," Harry pleaded.

Draco tugged on Ron's sleeve.

"We better get moving. It's exactly an hour and a half until the feast starts."

As Draco (hidden under the Invisibility Cloak so that the hoards of Gryffindors in the Common Room couldn't see him exit) and Ron exited Gryffindor Tower, Hermione turned to Harry, who had sat himself on Ron's bed. She walked over and sat beside him.

"It'll be okay you know that, don't you Harry?"

Harry sighed and shrugged his shoulders.

"Hermione, I'm not sure at all. If someone is after Draco, or me, they probably won't stop until they succeed."

"Don't be silly Harry. You can't think like that. If the note has helped us in any way, we know that Draco doesn't have to tell Crabbe and Goyle about you two now!" Hermione pointed to the note with her wand.

As if on cue, the note flew over into her hand.

That's when she noticed it. A small mark, in the lower left hand side of the parchment.

Hermione looked at the note and then more closely at the image in the corner of the note.

"It.... it can't be," she stammered.

"What is it Hermione?"

"The image here," she pointed, "Its two of the school crests - joined together."

"What?" Harry smirked. "Gryffindor and Slytherin?"

"No," Hermione answered. "Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff."

Harry snatched the note off Hermione and looked closely at the crests. Sure enough it looked like the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff crests had been cut in half and one half of each crest was stuck together.

"What do you think this means?" Harry looked at Hermione.

"That we could be looking at the wrong people," Hermione replied.

Harry looked around and saw the timetable stuck on his wall.

"Hermione, how long does it normally take us to get to the hospital?"

"Normally 20 minutes. We tend to walk pretty slowly," Hermione answered. "Why?"

Harry stood up and started to pace the floor.

"When we walk normally, it takes only ten minutes doesn't it?"

"Yes. You want to tell me what this is about?"

Harry sat in front of Hermione and grasped her shoulders.

"We were right at the beginning Hermione. Did you notice that Pansy and Goyle were walking very quickly towards the Slytherin Common Room after they had gone to see the Professors? Remember, they passed us on the way up, just passed the Potions Classroom?"

"But Harry," Hermione asked. "it doesn't work out. That would leave us with five minutes to be with Draco before they turned up if they were walking rather quickly."

"I know Hermione, but we did stop off on the way, remember? Neville wanted to know about Herbology and what we did during yesterdays lesson. Remember, he missed it because he fell down the stairs and he was in the hospital for the lesson."

Hermione's eyes seemed to widen on the spot.

"Oh Harry, you're right. Pansy and Goyle both had the time to attack Draco. If Neville didn't stop us, we could have adverted it."

"No," Harry shook his head, "they would of tried again."

Hermione instantly grabbed a spare piece of parchment and scribbled a quick note on it. She put down her quill and quickly folded it up while whistling a short tune.

All of a sudden, a small barn owl flew though the window.

"This has got to go to Draco Malfoy," she said to the owl while placing the note in its beak, "he'll be walking towards the Slytherin Common Room. It's urgent."

As quickly as it came, the owl disappeared.

"It's going to be fine. It's going to be okay." Harry tried to reassure himself.

Ron and Draco were just about to enter the Slytherin Common Room when the owl dropped something on his head.

"Ouch!" he muttered as he picked up the parchment.

Ron was trying not to laugh. It would give him away.

Draco unfolded the note and read it. He then quickly shoved it under the Cloak and abruptly turned and walked a couple of steps away from the entrance.

Ron started to walk behind Draco and unfolded the note. He read its contents carefully.

Draco and Ron

A small change about using the truth potion on Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy. The note has a small mark bearing a crest made up of both the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff crests.

Ask them if anything happened over the last week or so that seemed weird but also ask about this morning. Still use the potion and let me know.

Hermione

"Okay then," Ron could hear Draco say, "we'll do it Hermione's way. You ready Ron?"

Ron wrung his hands underneath the Cloak, "I guess I am."

Draco conjured up a small tray with three drinks on it. He then took out the bottles and poured the contents into each cup. He mixed them around and conjured up an extra drink for himself. This had a red ring on it so he wouldn't pick up the wrong cup.

"Well," Draco sighed, "here goes nothing."

Draco muttered the password and walked into the Common Room with Ron close behind, but not too close as to step on Draco's heels.

Sure enough Crabbe, Pansy, Goyle and Millicent Bulstrode were sitting around the table, talking intensely. Pansy and Goyle were sitting close together and muttering away while Millicent and Crabbe were looking at a book and pointing to certain passages.

"Hi everyone," Draco called. "I bought us drinks."

He gave one cup to each of the three bewildered students and sat his down in front of them. Ron moved back from Draco a couple of steps and sat on the edge of the couch next to him. Millicent, seeing that Draco wanted to have sometime with the other three, said a quick goodbye to Crabbe and joined Blaise Zabini at the study table.

"Don't look at me like that!" Draco sneered, "Drink up."

Crabbe, Pansy and Goyle all looked at Draco and then at each other.

"Why the hell not?" Pansy said, taking a gulp out of her cup. Crabbe and Goyle seemed to have drunk all of theirs as soon as Pansy had taken a sip out of hers.

"So," Draco started, "I haven't really had a chance to talk to you recently so I thought a quick catch up is in order. Anything weird happen to you all during the week?"

Pansy, always the loudest of the four, took another sip of her drink and started to talk.

"Funny that Draco. You see, two days ago I was in the girl's bathroom and someone bumped me while I was washing my face. It felt like that person who bumped into me had pulled my hair. I looked around and all I heard was someone yell sorry and walk out of the bathroom."

"Any idea what she looked like?"

"She looked like she had a Ravenclaw crest on her cloak. She actually looked a bit, you know, Asian."

"Okay then," Draco responded. Ron was carefully writing all this down.

"Actually," Pansy looked at Goyle, "didn't that Hufflepuff guy bump into you about that same time? You know, their seeker that whips Draco's arse every time?"

Goyle wrung his hands and nodded. "Yeah, just down the hall. Listen Draco, we overheard a conversation we heard Potter have with his friends this morning and we just wanted to know if it was true?"

Draco looked them right in the eyes and said one thing: "Yes, but it's none of your business. Nor anyone else's."

Draco looked at her, "Speaking of which, why did you visit me in hospital this morning Parkinson?"

Pansy looked down to the ground, "Crabbe and Goyle told me about the conversation they heard Potter have. Goyle thought that I deserve you Draco and we decided to use the Polyjuice I was saving for to use on someone else and use it on you. Millicent Bulstrode had a love potion she ordered and I stole that from her to use it on you. Goyle was going to transform into you, break up with Potter and I was going to get you to drink the love potion so I could have you and Potter couldn't," she was speaking quietly so that Millicent couldn't hear her.

She moved closer to Draco and placed her hand on his shoulder, "Forgive me Draco?"

Draco moved away from Pansy then growled at Pansy and Goyle, "No, but thanks for asking me about it before you did anything and if you try anything like this again, I will write home to your parents about you helping all the non-Slytherin students with their assignments Parkinson. They won't be pleased."

Crabbe and Goyle started to giggle when Draco turned towards them, "You think it's funny, do you?"

Both boys shook their heads in disagreement and stopped giggling. They knew what Draco was capable of doing to them if they ever crossed him.

Draco looked at the clock on the wall. The potion would be working for another five minutes.

He sighed then stood up and addressed the trio of guilty faced students. Then he noticed something and pointed to Goyle and Pansy.

"Why are you two holding hands?"

Pansy and Goyle looked at each other and then at Draco.

"Never mind. I have to go. I'll see you at the feast."

Draco turned and exited the Common Room, with Ron close behind. Both boys then ran up and into Gryffindor tower and Draco threw on the Invisibility Cloak. They entered the dorm and Hermione and Harry were sitting on Harry's bed still. Draco threw off the Cloak as Ron sat on his bed.

"Hey, careful with that!" Harry said as he caught the cloak in his arms.

"Oops, sorry," Draco winced.

"So what did you find out?' Hermione asked.

Draco relayed the conversation to her and Ron nodded in agreement. "That's what happened."

Hermione looked at Draco for a second, "So it really did work?" Draco nodded.

"Well I guess that's one thing. But what about the two people who bumped into Goyle and Pansy?"

Harry thought for a minute.

"The Hufflepuff seeker? Well that's easy, Cedric Diggory. Ravenclaw, Asian looking? That sounds like Cho Chang."

"What the hell would they want with us?" Draco asked.

Ron held up the note and pointed to the last sentence.

"Something to expose. If I can expose them, I can win it from him."

"I have a slight idea as to what. I'll be only a second"

Ron exited the dorm then came back a couple of minutes later with Fred and George.

"Explain!" he demanded.

"I have no idea what you're talking about!" George said.

"Come on Fred and George. I heard you mutter something about having to store your stuff in the girls dorm because of some stupid competition."

Fred blushed slightly then straightened himself up, "You haven't heard?"

"What?" Ron said irritably

"The Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw Quidditch teams are having a competition to see who is the best at pulling pranks. Word is that the best out of the two houses will try and pull a fast one on us two." George pointed at himself and Fred, "It seems that it's Davies and Diggory who are the chosen ones from each team."

"Let me guess. The Ravenclaw beater told you?" Harry asked and Fred nodded.

"We've been on tenterhooks all month," Fred explained, "We had to move our stuff into the girls dorm. Alicia and Katie were glad to mind it for us."

"I'll bet they were," Hermione said, causing George to blush slightly.

"What about Slytherin?" Draco asked.

"They got knocked out straight away. Hufflepuff publicly humiliated Flint in Defense Against the Dark Arts, and then Ravenclaw got Flint in Charms."

"What would it take for this to stop and Harry and I to be safe?" Draco asked.

Fred and George only then seemed to notice the Slytherin.

"We beat them at their own game," Fred answered. "The winner is decided tomorrow night, which gives us less than two days to organize something."

"Make that three days," Harry looked at a nearby calendar, "The Ravenclaw versus Hufflepuff Quidditch game is on the day after tomorrow. The Slytherin Game was pushed back a week to give time for Draco to heal."

"But why you two as targets?" Hermione asked.

"They probably found the note, and since there is only one Potter and one Malfoy at Hogwarts, it seems pretty easy to pinpoint who they are," Ron answered.

Fred and George looked at the quartet in astonishment. They had never looked at the note and by the sounds of it; they had just been let into one of the biggest secrets that could be hidden in the school.

"Okay then," Fred started, "lets plan this carefully."

"Plan what?" Draco asked.

"My young Slytherin acquaintance," George gripped Fred's shoulder, "we are Gryffindor's finest prank pullers. Nay, we are the best at Hogwarts. We are going to give them a taste of their own medicine, with total co-operation from you and Harry of course."

"Why not?" Harry shrugged his shoulders. Draco nodded in agreement.

"We have three days," Hermione circled the day after the Quidditch match, "to avoid this secret coming out of the closet."